The Delegation of the European Union to Sierra Leone in partnership with the Sierra Leone School Green Club yesterday organised a poetry and arts competition for Senior Secondary Schools at the Freetown City Council auditorium, as part of celebrations marking World Environment Day 2022.
Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation, Gerald Hatler, while delivering the keynote statement, said this year marks the 50th year of World Environment Day as it was first observed in 1972. He said that the theme for this year is “we only have one earth and we need to take care of it”.
He noted that the through the green deal, the European Union wants to build a better world not only in Europe but the world.
He stated that he is overseeing EU projects to make a change in Sierra Leone.
Gerald Hatler disclosed that the EU is currently supporting the National Park of the western area, Outamba-Kilimi National Park, the Gola Forest and environmentally forms of agriculture, and will soon support renewable energy initiatives.
He praised the student for demonstrating deep knowledge in climate changes issues, and challenged them to take active part in bringing the change that is needed in handling our environment by halting and reversing environmental degradation in the country.
Edward P. Bendu, Acting Chief Director in the Ministry of Environment, said the EU is one such organization that is supporting and promoting environmental management in the country, adding that the EU is spending millions of Euros to support Sierra Leone to protect its environment.
He praised the efforts of the Sierra Leone School Green Club for being so passionate about issues surrounding environmental management whiles calling on the students to take the message of climate change and environmental degradation in Sierra Leone to the homes and the communities.
He noted that only 5% of our forest remains. He called on all to take the issue of climate change seriously, as we have already started to experience the effect of climate change.
The Acting Chief Director said, as ministry they have so far planted 1.1m trees and this year they intend to plant 1.6m trees. He said that Sierra Leone has signed to the Paris Areement to reduce our temperature to below 2 degrees centigrade, noting that this could only be possible if they plant trees.
Daniel Conteh, Programme Manager Sierra Leone School Green Club, said the organisation was founded in 2015 as a response to climate change and global warming. He stressed the need to protect planet earth as it is the only planet that supports life and so there is need to protect it.
He stated that they raise awareness on the impact of climate change and environmental degradation in Sierra Leone among youth and children, as this will go a long way in solving climate change issues. He noted that this poetry and arts competition is a way of raising awareness among schoolchildren for them to come forward with solutions in solving climate change issues in their respective environment. The celebration was climaxed with presentation of prizes and certificates to Kellys Secondary School that took the first position, Baptist secondary and Huntingdon Secondary School took the second and third position, respectively.
By Kelvin Roberts